Curtain for carriage-tops



(No Model.)

. G. P. MITCHELL.

CURTAIN POR GARRIAGBzToPS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1.897

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE P. MITCHELL, OF OVID, MICHIGAN.

CURTAIN FOR CARRIAG E-TOPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 576,598, dated February 9, 1897.

Application led AugustvlZ, 1896. Serial No. 602,550. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t tay concern:

Beit known that I, GEORG-E P, MITCHELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ovid, in the county of Clinton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Curtain for Carriage-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in curtains for carriage-tops.

The object of the present invention is to improve-the manner of mounting side curtains on carriage-tops, to enable spring-roller curtains to be readily employed, and to provide simple and efcient means for mounting spring-roller side curtains on carriage-tops of the ordinary construction. v

A further object of the invention is to en able the side curtains to be readily removed from the sides of a carriage-top when it is desired to fold the latter.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is av longitudinal sectional View of a carriage-top provided with side curtains constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating the manner of f mounting the end of the spring-roller of the side curtains. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bracket for mounting the front end of the spring-roller. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustrating the arrangement of the hooks for attaching the rear edge of the side curtains of the back. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bolt which forms a bearing-socket.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

l designates a carriage-top provided at each side with a side curtain 2, mounted on and suspended from a spring-roller 3,Which is constructed in the ordinary manner, being provided at one end with a rigid round journal 4 and having at its other end a stationary journal 5,connected with the rollerby a spring in the usual manner. Each side curtain has its spring-roller arranged Within the carriagetop and inwardly offset a sufficient distance from the same to enable the roller to rotate freely in Winding and unwinding the side curtains. The round journal 4 of the springroller is arranged in a cylindrical socket 6 of a bolt 7 which passes through a perforation of the cloth of the back of the carriage-top, and the bolt is provided with an enlarged head, arranged on the outer face of the back of the carriage-top, a washer 8 being arranged on the inner face thereof and secured to the bolt by a nut 9. By this construction the bolt is securely mounted on the cloth of which the back of the carriage-top is constructed, and there is no liability ofthe cloth splitting or ripping at the bolt opening or perforation.

The front journal 5 of the curtain-roller is arranged in a rectangular opening 10 of a bearingbracket 11, consisting of a metal frame provided at its inner edge with perforated ears 12 for the reception of fastening devices for attaching the bracket to the front bow of the carriage-top,and the bracket is provided at its front face with a plate 13, which conceals the framework of the bracket and the front end of the roller, enabling the carriage-top to present an ornamental and attractive appearance instead of disiiguring it by the attachment of a spring-roller.

When the side curtains are drawn down, they are secured to the buttons of the carriage-body and are provided with buttonholes or eyelets for the reception of such buttons.

Each side curtain is provided at its rear edge with a series of eyes 14, offset slightly from the rear edge and adapted to engage a series of hooks mounted on the cloth strips at opposite sides of the back curtain.

The hooks 15 have their shanks concealed between the oil-cloth of the curtain and the lining at the inner face thereof and are thereby snugly and rmly secured to the said strips.

The carriage-top is adapted to be raised and lowered Witho ut removing the side curtains; but when it is desired to fold the carriagetop the side curtains are removed by rst detaching the front journals from the bearingbrackets, which are provided at the bearingopenings with entrance-slots, and the side curtains are then stored out of the way at the back of the carriage-top in loops 16, located adjacent to the side edges of the back of the carriage-top. These loops hold the side. cur- IOO tains in convenient reach of the occupant of the vehicle, and they may be readily taken down and put up Without leaving the vehicle.

It will be seen that the side curtains are simple and comparativelyinexpensive in construction, that they are conveniently mounted on a carriage-top and may be readily taken down and stored away at the back of the car riage-top when desired. It will also be apparent that the side curtains may be rolled up, pulled down, or adjusted Without necessitating the occupant of the vehicle leaving the latter.

Vhat I claim isl. In a device of the class described, the combination with a carriage-top, of a rear bea-ring comprising a bolt passing through a perforation of the back cloth of the Carriagetop, provided, at its outer end, with an enlarged head and having a bearing-socket at its inner end, a Washer arranged on the bolt and engaging the inner face of the back cloth of the carriage-top, and a nut mounted on the bolt and holding the head of the same and the Washer in engagement with the carriage-top, a side curtain provided with a spring-roller and having its rear journal arranged in the bearing-socket of said bolt, and means for supporting the front journal of the springroller, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a carriage-top, of a rear bearin comprising a bolt passing through a perforation of the back of the carriage-top, provided at its outer end with a head and having a bearing-socket at its inner end, a Washer arranged on the bolt and engaging the inner face of the back of the carriage-top,V

and a nut mounted on the bolt and holding the head of the same and the Washer in en gagement with the carriage-top, a side eurtain provided with a spring-roller an d having its rear journal arranged in the bearingsocket of said bolt, and a bearing-bracket mounted on the front bow of the carriage-top, having an opening for the front journal of the spring-roller7 and provided at its front face With a plate concealing the end of the springroller, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oivn I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE P. MITCHELL.

\Vitnessesz W. C. HoWLET'r, E. A. MITCHELL. 

